Image Quality Tests

Flash

The built-in flash of the 700D has a guide no. of 13m at ISO 100, typical for its class. Flash exposure compensation of +/-2 stops EV can be set.

The flash can be used to wirelessly trigger off-camera Canon Speedlites in either a single or multiple groups. And you can use an external flash via the camera's hotshoe. (sample image from 650D).

Curiously, when using flash with Auto ISO enabled, Canon has deliberately chosen to bias the sensitivity setting to ISO 400. Shooting in P mode the camera simply refuses to use a sensitivity below ISO 400, meaning that in bright conditions where you may want to use fill flash for a portrait, you can easily end up with a camera selected aperture of f/16 or f/22. In Av mode, the camera will drop down to lower ISO values in bright light. But there is still a clear preference for setting ISO 400. In every flash-enabled shooting mode we regularly encountered the bizarre situation in which the camera chooses a higher ISO with the flash enabled than it does when pointed at the same scene with the flash turned off.

Shadow noise

The ability to successfully manage shadow noise on a per pixel level can be of interest, particularly when comparing cameras that use the same sensor size - in this case APS-C - but offer different resolutions. In the example below we're comparing the EOS 650D/700D against the higher resolution 24MP Nikon D3200.

We've taken base ISO Raw shots of our studio test scene and processed them in Adobe Camera Raw with a +3.0EV exposure adjustment. We've then taken crops in the darkest areas of our scene to compare the amount of shadow noise between the two cameras. Note that (again) these samples were shot with the 650D but represent precisely the performance of the 700D.

Canon 650D ISO 100: ACR +3EV, NR off

100% crop

Nikon D3200 ISO 100: ACR +3EV, NR off

100% crop

Looking at the 100% crops above, it is clear that the 650D/700D displays noticeably more chroma noise than the Nikon D3200, which manages very clean output despite having a pixel count that is 33% greater than that of the Canon.

Real world sample

While the results of our studio scene reveal interesting information about the sensor's maximum capabilities, it's important to place those results in the context of real-world photography. Below is an image shot outdoors under typical daylight conditions at ISO 100 on the 650D. We've taken the same raw file and converted it twice in ACR 7.1 - once at default exposure settings and again with three Basic Panel adjustments, detailed below.

ACR 7.1: Default settings with NR off

ACR 7.1: Exposure +30, Shadows +30, Blacks +40 with NR off

100% crop

100% crop

As you can see it is certainly possible to gain significant detail - while maintaining a reasonable overall exposure - by opening up the shadows in ACR. Yet this comes at the price of much more prominent chroma noise. It's important though to keep in mind that we're looking at 100% crops and that these noise levels will be far less objectionable at all but the largest print sizes.

Multi Shot NR

The EOS 700D offers - as an additional option in the NR menu - the ability to capture four successive shots (presumably at 5fps) in a single burst and combine them into a single image. Because noise is a random event, the advantage of capturing multiple images and then merging them together is that you can average out the noise in the final processed image.

Multi Shot NR is a JPEG-only feature. You cannot select it in either of the 700D's raw-enabled modes. And once it is activated, switching the mode dial to any of the basic shooting modes, recording a movie, using the bulb setting, or powering off the camera will revert the NR setting back to its default, Standard setting.

The process of combining the separate images and averaging out the noise takes a bit of time. A 'busy' status is displayed for about 10 seconds after the final exposure. While you cannot take another image during this time you can access the camera's menu system.

Using the same lowlight scene in which we compared the EOS 650D/700D against two of its peers on the high ISO comparison page of this review, we compare the 700D's Multi Shot NR setting against both the default and 'high' NR settings.

ISO 6400, 1/100 sec. @ f/7.1

Multi Shot NR 100% crop

NR Standard (default) 100% crop

NR High 100% crop

Multi Shot NR mode does an extremely impressive job of minimizing noise and image artifacts while simultaneously offering greater fine-edged detail than either of the single shot NR modes. As you'd expect with any multi-shot mode, Canon cautions against excessive camera shake or shooting moving subjects, stating that the NR results will be 'less effective' in such situations.

To examine this we photographed the scene you see below. In the first image all of the objects are static. In the following shot we turned on the Elmo doll which vibrates and spins in a circle during the four exposures. As you can see, when the camera determines a subject has moved between exposures, noise is much more prominent. In fact this result below is nearly identical to what you'd get using 'NR Standard', suggesting that where the camera abandons its noise-averaging attempts it reverts to the default NR behavior.

ISO 6400 static subject

ISO 6400 moving subject

100% crop

100% crop

Interestingly though, even when movement between exposures is detected, it appears the 650D/700D still attempts to average noise in areas of the scene it deems stable enough. Below you can see a slightly ghosted image along the edge of the mannequin. And in this area of the scene, the noise levels are significantly reduced compared to the camera's default NR setting. This suggests that the multi-shot noise-averaging is not an all or nothing affair; a very clever trick.

Multi Shot NR: static subject

Multi Shot NR: moving subject (due to table vibration)

Default NR: static subject

Lens correction settings

The 700D offers two built-in lens corrections, based on camera-stored lens profile data, which can be enabled via the shooting menu. You can use Canon's included EOS Utility to download current lens data to the camera. Note that neither of these corrections are baked into accompanying raw files. If you use Canon's own DPP raw conversion software, the corrections travel with the raw file as metadata, allowing you to adjust them to taste. Third party converters, like ACR and DxO, however, will not make use of this data, although both have their own tools for these types of corrections..

Vignetting

Peripheral illumination control is meant to counter corner vignetting effects. It is enabled by default. Below we've shot an evenly lit neutral area with Canon's new EF-S 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens at its widest aperture. As you can see, enabling the lens correction results in more even illumination, providing just over 1 stop EV of increased luminance in the farthest corners compared to the sample without the correction applied.

Peripheral Illumination On 18mm @ f/3.5

Peripheral Illumination Off 18mm @ f/3.5

Chromatic aberration/fringing

The chromatic aberration (CA) setting seeks to minimize color fringing that is typically found along very high contrast edges. This feature is disabled by default because when active, the maximum image burst in continuous shooting mode is greatly reduced. The scene below, with dark leaves against a bright sky is a typical scenario in which you'd encounter color fringing. It was shot with the 18-135mm STM lens at 18mm. And as you can see, the in-camera software correction does an admirable job of reducing, if not eliminating CA.

Chromatic aberration disabled

Chromatic aberration enabled

100% crops

The occurrence of CA varies of course from lens to lens, but it has been our experience in shooting with the 700D's kit zooms that CA occurs often enough in high contrast scenes - especially at their wider focal lengths - that it's generally worth enabling the automated correction except where you anticipate shooting bursts in continuous drive mode.

Overall Image Quality

The EOS 700D, much like the older EOS 600D, offers very good image quality with default settings that produce pleasing JPEGs. The camera produces reasonably sharp images without introducing excessive edge halos, although you can easily improve on these by shooting Raw images and processing them yourself.

Color rendition and saturation will be familiar to users of previous Rebel series models and the camera's auto white balance yields generally pleasing, if not completely accurate colors in a wide range of lighting conditions. Exposures are typically well-judged in all but the most challenging of lighting scenarios. Dynamic range is perhaps a bit shy of some of the 650D's DSLR peers - as well as impressive mirrorless models like the Olympus E-M5 - requiring Highlight Tone Priority (HTP) to be enabled on bright sunny days for comparable results.

And although its pixel count remains the same, the noise levels of the 700D are slightly higher than we saw from the EOS 600D. What the 700D does have in its favor though is the new MultiShot NR setting which provides a genuinely useful method of controlling noise, albeit it in scenes that don't contain moving subjects. It also boasts an additional stop of sensitivity (ISO 25600) for extreme situations.

Overall, there are few surprises here for users of previous Rebel models (this is especially true for EOS 650D owners), and on balance we consider that to be a good thing. The ability to use in-camera lens profiles to correct for vignetting and chromatic aberration adds even more value to a camera line that has long been a solid performer.

Comments

I'm using Canon EOS 700D and dang I love this camera touch screen and the live view focus accuracy when I mount it on tripod to take our family photos. Pictures are 99% sharp unlike my past Sony SLT A33 that churned out soft photos over various Sony lenses. The camera help to stop me from migrating to full frame. The only drawback is this camera with the 18-135mm STM is 1.5kg and its a great pain to lug this around Paris.

I am graduating from a bridge camera to a DSLR. Have been a hobby photographer for many years primarily doing landscape photography but I do it only when on a vacation that would be twice a year. I was a little confused whether to buy a Canon 700D or a Nikon D5300. I have always used Canon cameras before and after going thru many reviews comparing the two cameras I am not wiser. I also understand that once one buys a DSLR one continues to buy cameras of that family so that it can save money on lenses. Assuming that the quality of photos is not much different in the two cameras is the touch screen in 700D so useful that I should buy a Canon or the WIFI-GPS so important in the Nikon. As there anything else that help me decide between the two. Your advice would be most helpful.Tx. You can reply directly on my mail - drkpsanghvi@gmail.com

since u have been using canon , it is better to go for 700d as u r familiar with canon system and picture style and may have canon lenses with you. i find canon 700d is nice cam with cleaner sharper image with better color than nikon.

Nikon always have bean a crap for landscapes...I mean in case we talking about cheaper model DSLRs. Nikons green color is absolute joke and ISO stuck ....stay with canon...Nikon is great for moving objects r portraits...but as a landscape photographer I will never ever go for Nikon unless I can buy D4.

I would go for the Canon if you have prior experience with those cameras. Also, the Nikon lens screw on "backwards" - well, at least the one I used. Their customer support was abysmal in 2012 when I was working for a company that had a problem with one of their recent DSLRs. At the time I was trying to use the company camera (a Nikon) to take product shots but was having many issues so I brought my Canon 7D to work everyday and shot them with that.

canon 600d or 700d ?i have been carefully seeing 1000s of photos taken by 600d and 700d on flickr and other review sites including this top cam site, in review images 600d looks better on most parameters notably sharpness and color but on flickr photos 600d pix looks a bit less sharp to 700d pix which is more evident on night landscapes shots.Especially a few shots on 700d plus canon 18-135 of hongkong night landscape is very sharp with great color...which none of nikon, sony or pantex match...i m in dilemma , can the 600d with 18-135 canon match 700d?experts are requested to clear the doubt, thanks!

An outstanding review as usual. I just wish camera makers would let cameras be cameras and camcorders be camcorders. All I want is a camera. Take away the video mode gubbins and we would see a big drop in price. I can buy a pocket camcorder if I need urgent video. Why stick it in a camera at all? Better buffers could be included and also better features by knocking out the video stuff. Well, that's what I think anyway.

blah blah blah ..cannon stays cannon ..all the new shiny freaks will rush on buying a camera that is basically the same as the one they had 3 years ago .no true innovation from cannon for a long while now .

A nice camera that replaced my 600D after it ingested yellow steam on a volcano!The camera does everything I ask of it including astro photography, and the touch screen is used far more than I thought it would be, all in all an excellent camera.